From the desk of Andrea S, Vice-President, Smoky Mountains Chapter:
On March 29, we organized a Wild Ones Smoky Mountains Chapter members only walk at the Townsend River Walk to view the spring ephemerals. Mark Seder was an excellent host, and he had two knowledgeable, long-time volunteers to assist. It was a lovely walk, easy, pretty short, but there was plenty to see. You can tell the local community loves and appreciates this treasure. While the volunteers have planted numerous trees, shrubs and perennials, they have removed many invasives over years, and numerous native plants came back on their own. That is so reassuring; we don’t have to force nature; we just need to enable it!
They used some great innovations that we can borrow, have some clever ideas and are generous with sharing.
We are planning to organize at least one walk per season here, early in day for summer, afternoon in winter.
Since the Millers Cove Nursery was nearby, several of us stopped and shopped afterward. We met briefly with Millie, the owner. She has planted a pollinator garden in the Riverwalk. The Miller’s Cover Native Plant Nursery is not open to the public, but a selection of plants are available to purchase at the Plant Stand. A self-pay roadside stand, it is open seasonally everyday during daylight hours unless otherwise noted (check FB or IG for most up-to-date information). Additional species can be ordered for pickup.
Please view the pictures below of the gorgeous spring ephemerals from the Townsend River Walk.
